Improvement in faucets for casks



UNITED STATES EATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS MASSEY, OF PAVTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN FAUCETS FOR CASKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,050, dated March 3l, 1674; application filed January 31, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS MAssEv, of Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain Improvements in Faucets for Oasks, Barrels, Kegs, and other similar articles, of which said invention the following is a specification My said invention relates to an improved means of tapping the barrels, kegs, casks, and other articles aforesaid, and of drawing therefrom the fermented liquors, beer, and other liquids therein. The said device is comprised in two parts, the iirst of which is permanently placed in said barrels, kegs, Src., and the second is kept and used by the person drawing from said kegs and barrels the contents thereof. The rst of said parts consist of a tapering and externally-threaded cylinder or bushing, containing a cutoff valve constructed and operated substantially as hereinafter described. The top of said irst part is provided with a swinging cap, which, in the absence of the second part, is closed and fastened to prevent the entrance into said bushing of any extraneous matter. The second part of said device consists of a wrench which has an internal tube, and which is so combined with a threaded nut that the first and second parts may be easily and quickly coupled together, in the manner and for the purposes hereinafter K described.

i a part of this specification, the indicating letters thereon referring to the same parts when repeated.

Figure lis a view of the top of the barrel part or bushing aforesaid, with the ,swinging cap closed. Fig. 2 is an external view of the device, with both parts thereof coupled together. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of Fig. 2, showing the respective parts and their relative position. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the device.

a is a tapering cylinder or bushing, which is permanently screwed into the barrel, the lower part of which has perforations through* the sides, as shown in Fig. 2, and which contain parts hereinafter described. bis the rim of said bushing, and c o are screw-holes therein, to enable said bushing to be more firmly fastened in the barrel. d is an inner cylinder inserted in the bushing a, having a perforated and conical-shaped enlargement, as seen at e, which part c, in combination with the contiguous perforated part of said bushing, forms a cut-off valve, by the operation of which the liquid is let on and shut of at the will of the operator, as hereinafter described. j' is a projection of said part d through the bottom cap, as shown. g is a cap screwed into the lower end of the bushing, which iirmly secures the part d in place. Through this cap are perforations, as seen in Fig. 4, which allow the passage of the liquid through to the seat of the part d, and thus the pressure upon the cut-off valve c is equalized. h is apin through the end of the projection f, which works from side to side of a rectangular groove in the bottom of the cap g, in the manner and for the purposes hereinafter described. i is a small screw through the bushing a into the cap g, for the purpose of preventing any possibility of said cap working or turning out of said bushing. k is a swinging cap used for the purpose of keeping dirt and other foreign substances out of the bushing a, when the second part of the device is not used. Z is a catch in the top of said cap 7c, and m a spring underneath an arm of said cap, both of which facilitate the opening and closing of the cap k. u is a threaded nut, which screws into the open top of the bushing a, and carries the part o-a wrench-down upon the top of the part d, the points of union of the hollowed end of said wrench and the upper extremity of said part l being six or eight sided, to the end that, when united or coupled, the wrench will turn said part d, as and for the purposes hereinafter described. p is the handle of said wrench. r is a tube running up inside the wrench o, and projecting above said wrench, as shown, to which a beer-pump or other apparatus may be attached if and when desired. s is a beveled part ofthe exterior of said bushing a, and forms with the barrel a dovetailed joint to prevent any leakage of the contents of the barrel.

The operation of said device is substantially as follows: The bushing and its interior parts having been placed in t-he barrel substantially as indicated, the nut fn, with its contiguous parts, is screwed into the top or mouth of said bushing until the hollowed end of the wrench 0 and top of part d are fitted or coupled together, as shown in Fig. 3. To draw the contents of the barrel the wrench is turned by the handle p, which carries the whole of part d around until the perforations ot' said part d at e are brought directly in front of the perfoiations in said bushing. The beer or other liquid will then freely pass through said holes, into and up the interior of the part d and tube of'. To shut off the How of the liquid the wrench is turned backward, and the holes in the valve e are thus turned away from the pcrforations in the bushing a., and an impenetrable surface is then presented to the contents of the barrel. Ihe pin h, through the projecting end foi' the part d, turns with said part d, and the sides of the rectangular groove aforesaid, against which said pin strikes, prevent said part d from being turned farther than is necessary to draw the liquid or to shut it off'. It is intended that the cut-oft' valve e and its seat shall be nickel-plated, or otherwise treated, to prevent the wearin g away that might be inci dent to those parts. Vashers of leather or other materials may be placed in the hollowed end of the wrench 0 at its point of union with the angular-sided top of the part d, when .found desirable.

Vhen the contents of the barrel or cask have all been drawn oft' the second part ofthe device is easilyremoved andthe swinging` cap closed. The barrel is then ready for relling,

and the said second part is ready to be applied to another barrel or cask in which the said tirst part of the device has been previously placed.

I do not claim to be the inventor of a cut-oli' valve considered separately as such, nor that I am the rst inventor of the bushing a in its external appearance and construction; but

Vhat I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The taperingcylinder or bushing a., constructed as shown, and working inside the barrel, in combination with the cut-off valve e, part d, rectangularly grooved and perforated cap g, pin h, and screw i, each and all in the manner and for the purposes substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the cut-oftl valve e, part d, Wrench o, cap g, and pin h, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The swinging cap 7c, composed ot' a metallic disk, having a perforated arm, by which it is jointed to the rim b, and also having the catch l and spring m, all constructed in the manner and used for the purposes substantially as described and shown.

et. The coinbiln tion of the wrench o with the nut a, part d, and tube r, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

THOMAS MASSEY.

Vv'itncsscs:

THos. I?. BARNEFIELD, GEO. H. STANLEY. 

